And while you’re there, most of you will spend money on supplies (of course, the seasoned among you know that doing so saves money and hassle). Did you know that your impact on local economies is HUGE? In fact, Burning Man estimates that in 2011 participants spent over $15 million in Northern Nevada, a region especially hard-hit by the ongoing recession. Many local businesses will tell you that Burning Man season is even bigger than Christmas. Pretty amazing, really.

Social Capital

The Burning Man experience has inspired many of us to take a serious look at our financial choices and relationships, including the effects of our economic decisions, directing our money towards resources and businesses that align with our values. By doing so, we invest in social capital. And because of Burning Man’s influence, many local businesses are giving additional attention to social capital and how it impacts the way they do business.

Reverend Billy preaches against big box stores and overconsumption at the Church of Stop Shopping. Photo CC-BY Steven Rosenbaum.

A good example of this is the businesses that participate in the Exodus Trash and Recycling Network (EXTRA), now in its sixth year. EXTRA is a collective of local businesses in the region who provide trash and recycling services 24/7 to Burners after the event. The funds raised go back into the community — each of the participating businesses donates funds and materials to local charitable causes, such as Black Rock Solar.

As you make your travel and shopping plans in the weeks ahead, use the Reno and other Travel Information Pages in the Preparation section of the Burning Man website as a reference. There you will find very detailed information about our neighboring towns, local businesses that invest in social capital, and Burner-friendly resources to be found on your way to and from Black Rock City.

By doing your homework and supporting these types of businesses, you’re supporting both our neighbors and Burning Man’s mission (and you’re likely to get some pretty awesome goods and services to boot).

The Hun, also known as J.H. Fearless, has been blogging for Burning Man (and many other outlets) since 2005, which is also the year she joined the BRC DPW on a whim that turned out to be a lifetime commitment.
Since then she's won some awards for blogging, built her own creative business, and produced some of the Burning Blog's most popular stories and series. She co-created a grant-funded art piece, "Refoliation," in 2007, and stood next to it watching as the Man burned on Monday. She considers that, in many ways, to have been the symbolic end of Burning Man that was.
The Hun lives in Reno with DPW Shade King, Quiet Earp. You may address her as "The Hun" or "Hun". If you call her "Honey" she reserves the right to cut you.

6 thoughts on “Preparation, Social Capital, Northern Nevada and You”

What would be really helpful is a map showing the locations of the places that take trash. That way, one could plan better when/where to stop and get rid of trash. The map could be part of the arrival package or something to pick up during the exodus pulsing stops.

The second will indeed be in the informative materials you’ll receive at the Greeters Station when you enter Black Rock City. You’ll receive a flyer, which you hang on your rearview mirror, which will have 24 locations along all routes from Burning Man, as well as maps, as paert of the Exodus Trash and Recycling Network (EXTRA!).

Finally, and more on EXTRA! here (and these locations with maps) here:

just toss it on the side of the road like the rest of us. or better yet, just leave it for those DPW gutter rats to pick up. that’s what they’re there for anyway, otherwise they’d have to work at jiffylubes all summer – you’re doing them a favor.

I agree. Santa Cruz is a great place to deposit your trash. White trash especially welcome!

Whatever you do in Santa Cruz, don’t light a cigarette. That’s a beacon for homeless people to come up to you and tell their sad story about how they just need 35 cents to catch a bus back to San Francisco. Plus, can I have a cigarette?